My father Mario bought his first nightclub in San Francisco in the early 1940’s. The Carnival Club on Eddy Street. The Carnival Club was very popular with servicemen during WWII as they passed through the Port of San Francisco. My father then bought The ShadowBox in Laurel Heights and enjoyed more success. In the 1950’s my father and his brother Rudy opened The Between the Acts on Geary St. in the heart of San Francisco’s popular theatre district.

Augustino “Bimbo“ Giancola was a lifelong friend of my father’s. In 1960 Bimbo asked my father to run the bar at the World Famous Bimbo’s 365 Club on Columbus in North Beach. He worked there until he retired in the early 1970’s. Rudy moved to Hawaii in the mid 60’s and owned many successful businesses in Waikiki. In addition to owning Rudy’s Italian Restaurants, he owned Davy Jones Locker, Rudy’s Hideaway, Jilly’s Disco and many more establishments.

After working for Rudy in the late 80’s I came back to California and worked at several restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Contra Costa County before opening Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in the autumn of 1999. Our current full bar expansion was completed in January 2006.

I have tried to maintain that same warm and inviting feeling my father and uncle provided for so many years. My family hopes you enjoy your visit and will come see us again!